Film-incentive bill sparks outcry from local union

Published: Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 7:07 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 7:07 p.m.

Response on social media was swift and negative to news of H994, a bill filed in North Carolina's House by state Rep. Rick Catlin and others to make the the state's film production credit non-refundable.

Local 491 of IATSE, the union of film and television technicians, called Thursday for a “Stop the Job Killers” rally against the bill, to be held at 1:45 p.m. Saturday at the foot of Water Street in Wilmington's Riverfront Park.

Responses on the public “Rally in Wilmington – Stop the Job Killers” page, created on Facebook, were mainly negative.

“The film industry … affects thousands in just Wilmington alone,” wrote Barb E. Wall, “not including the service industry, real estate, local tourism and, and, and …”

“What I don't understand is why Rick, a guy from this area, would propose a bill that shoots down something he should be intimately familiar with,” said Chris Alexander. “After all, they've even done filming in his neighborhood.”

Anne Wilson, at work on a film project in Georgia, posted: “Maybe Mr. Catlin and (co-sponsor Rep. Chris) Millis would like to accompany us back to Atlanta, and I can give them a quick tour of the sets of 15 television series and 10-plus feature films currently shooting here right now (partly as a result of Georgia film incentives) … Just our film alone has spent $37 million in qualifying Georgia expenditures and employed over 300 people in just six months.” The legislators, she added, “should be proposing bills to increase the NC incentives!”

A number of people posted on Facebook that they planned to attend the rally, while others, working out of state, said they would be there “in spirit.”

<p>Response on social media was swift and negative to news of H994, a bill filed in North Carolina's House by state Rep. Rick Catlin and others to make the the state's film production credit non-refundable.</p><p>Local 491 of IATSE, the union of film and television technicians, called Thursday for a “Stop the Job Killers” rally against the bill, to be held at 1:45 p.m. Saturday at the foot of Water Street in Wilmington's Riverfront Park.</p><p>Responses on the public “Rally in Wilmington – Stop the Job Killers” page, created on <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/facebook"><b>Facebook</b></a>, were mainly negative.</p><p>“The film industry … affects thousands in just Wilmington alone,” wrote Barb E. Wall, “not including the service industry, real estate, local tourism and, and, and …”</p><p>“What I don't understand is why Rick, a guy from this area, would propose a bill that shoots down something he should be intimately familiar with,” said Chris Alexander. “After all, they've even done filming in his neighborhood.”</p><p>Anne Wilson, at work on a film project in Georgia, posted: “Maybe Mr. Catlin and (co-sponsor Rep. Chris) Millis would like to accompany us back to Atlanta, and I can give them a quick tour of the sets of 15 television series and 10-plus feature films currently shooting here right now (partly as a result of Georgia film incentives) … Just our film alone has spent $37 million in qualifying Georgia expenditures and employed over 300 people in just six months.” The legislators, she added, “should be proposing bills to increase the NC incentives!”</p><p>A number of people posted on Facebook that they planned to attend the rally, while others, working out of state, said they would be there “in spirit.”</p><p><i></p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic14"><b>Ben Steelman</b></a>: 343-2208</i></p>